Method for the quantitative determination of proteinase inhibitors

ABSTRACT

A method is provided for the quantitative determinations of active and inactive concentrations of proteinase inhibitors, such as α 1 PI and α 2 M, in the body fluids of humans and animals.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 09/452,699, filed Dec. 2, 1999, now abandoned, which in turn claims priority under provisional application 60/110,580, filed Dec. 2, 1998, the entire contents of both applications being incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1) Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a method for the quantitative determination of the specific activity of proteinase inhibitors. In one aspect, the invention is directed to the quantitative determination of inactive α₁ Proteinase Inhibitor in bodily fluids such as human serum or plasma.

2) Background Art

Emerging evidence suggests a functional link between proteinases and cell signaling. As would be predicted, activation and inactivation of proteinase-activated receptors are selective, e.g., the thrombin-activated receptor can be inactivated by cathepsin G or neutrophil elastase. Examination of the influence of proteinase inhibitors on proteinase-activated receptors is complicated by the variance in affinities, concentrations, and species of proteinase inhibitors represented in serum. The proteinase inhibitor in serum exhibiting the greatest concentration is α₁ proteinase inhibitor (α₁PI, α₁-antitrypsin), and the proteinase inhibitor encompassing the broadest spectrum is α₂ macroglobulin (α₂M).

In the acute phase of inflammation, quantitative levels of α₁PI have been reported to significantly increase, as do proteolytic fragmentation and proteinase complexation, both of which can diminish the functional capacity of α₁PI. The functional capacity of α₁PI during the acute phase has not previously been examined. Further, in some situations, the association of α₂M with neutrophil elastase in plasma is competitively favored, and in this case elastase-mediated proteolysis of low-molecular-weight peptides and cytokines can persist. The relative concentrations of elastolytic proteinases, the inhibitor α₁PI, and the substrate-restricting α₂M form a tightly regulated mechanism for discreet targeting of elastase activity.

It has been previously observed using serially diluted serum that the residual uninhibited enzymatic activity of exogenously added elastase exhibits bimodal regulation. The bimodal behavior of serum was demonstrated to result from the dual activities of α₁PI and α₂M; however, these investigators did not attempt to derive a numerical value for quantitating the active fraction of α₁PI. While elastase is completely inhibited by α₁PI, association of elastase with α₂M excludes its activity except toward low molecular substrates. When the concentration of α₂M exceeds that of elastase, catalytic activity if unaffected by adding α₁PI since α₂M is not replaced by α₁PI in these complexes. When the concentration of elastase exceeds that of α₂M in this scenario, elastase is available for complexing with added α₁PI resulting in a decrease in catalytic activity. Physiologic concentrations of the common phenotypes of α₁PI have been approximated as 20-53 μM and that of α₂M as 1.56-4.96 μM so that as serum is diluted and incubated with a constant concentration of elastase, the contribution from α₂M in elastase protection becomes negligible by this method of detection, and the contribution from α₁PI is detected as increased inhibition. On the other hand, as serum becomes excessively dilute, the contribution from α₁ PI also becomes negligible to detection resulting in decreased inhibition. Therefore, a serum dilution exists at which minimum catalytic activity can be measured by exploiting the properties of unequal serum concentration and unequal outcomes of complexes between elastase and α₁PI and α₂M. The maximum reduction in catalytic activity is a measure of the functionally active concentration of α₁PI in competition with α₂M for elastolytic enzymes. The relationship between reduction in catalytic activity and the precise quantitation of functional α₁PI in competition with α₂M has not previously been examined.

Proteinase inhibition is only one of the diverse biologic activities of α₁PI and α₂M including alteration of the cellular effects of polymorphonuclear neutrophils, found that α₁PI It decreases antigen-driven, PHA and, Con A, but not PWM, lymphocyte responsiveness. In fact, inhibition of DNA synthesis and proliferation by α₁PI has been demonstrated in erythroid progenitor cells and lymphocytes. It has been reported that α₁PI deficient serum mediates enhancement of lymphocyte response to PHA and increases zymosan activation of monouclear cells and PMN. The ability to measure the functional capacity of proteinase inhibitors in serum is paramount to determining the interrelationship between proteinase inhibitors and immune responsiveness in pathology. Association rates previously derived using isolated proteinases and inhibitors suggested the feasibility for measuring these activities in serum.

Quantitative determination of serum α₁PI has traditionally been performed nephelometrically; however, antigenically quantitated levels may not be representative of functional capacity. It has previously been observed that α₁PI in serum exhibits bimodal behavior as the result of various concentrations of proteinase inhibitors, specifically α₂macro-globulin (α₂M) and inter-a-trypsin inhibitor, which compete in binding to a panel of serine proteinases. Consequently, it has not previously been possible to assign a numerical value for the specific activity of these competing proteinase inhibitors in serum.

In J. Clin. Chem. Clin. Biochem, Vol. 25, 1987, pp. 167-172, M. C. Gaillard, et al disclosed the determination of functional activity of α₁ proteinase inhibitors and α₂ macroglobulin in human plasma using elastase. They were able to devise an assay method to determine the amounts of functional activity of α₁ proteinase inhibitors and α₂ macroglobulin respectively in human plasma.

The method of Gaillard, et al employed mixing elastase with α₁, proteinase inhibitor and α₂ macroglobulin, all three with some degree of purity, but with undetermined activity. Their method gives a result, the equivalence point (V_(e)) used in calculating “total elastase inhibiting capacity which is defined as the number of ml of plasma required to bind 1 μmol of porcine pancreatic elastase.” While this is an important finding, however, the value for total elastase binding activity is not reproducible using varying sources or concentrations of elastase as demonstrated in Bristow et 1998, Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol. Nor does the method of Gaillard, et al give any information about whether α₁ proteinase inhibitor is being degraded or is at steady state. Degradation occurs during inflammation, and it is desirable to detect degradation of α₁ proteinase as a prognostic indication of disease state. For this reason, the present invention sought to determine the relationship between the equivalence point described by Gaillard, et al and the number of total molecules, active molecules, and inactive molecules of α₁ proteinase inhibitor in serum and other complex body fluids. The experimental method to define this relationship was to observe the change in residual catalytic activity of elastase when a quantifiable number of functioning molecules of elastase were incubated with a quantifiable number of functioning molecules Of α₂ macroglobulin before or at the same time as addition of a quantifiable number of functioning molecules of α₁ proteinase inhibitor. By varying the three numbers of molecules, it was possible to derive the theoretical relationship between elastase inhibiting capacity and the ratio of elastase bond to α₁ proteinase inhibitor or α₂ macroglobulin. Detivation of the theoretical relationship between elastase bound to α₁ proteinase inhibitor or α₂ macroglobulin in competition (herein referred to as the first unique derivation) is unique to the instant method and has not been attempted previously.

However, derivation of a theoretical relationship does not necessarily imply a physiological relationship. Therefore, the theoretical relationship was tested using serum from healthy individuals with known steady state levels of antigenically determined α₁ proteinase inhibitor. Application of the first unique derivation to the quantification of serum elastase inhibiting activity allowed the second unique step of the instant method (herein referred to as the second unique derivation), the relationship between the “equivalence point” (V_(e) in units of plasma volume), the number of elastase molecules added to serum, and residual catalytic activity (in units of elastase molecules).

However, derivation of the relationship between elastase molecules added to serum and residual catalytic activity still does not yield the number of molecules of α₁ proteinase inhibitor or α₂ macroglobulin in serum. Application of the second unique derivation to sera from a sufficiently large population of individuals allowed the third unique step of the instant method (herein referred to as the third unique derivation), the relationship between residual catalytic activity and the number of functionally active molecules of α₁ proteinase inhibitor or α₂ macroglobulin.

Of considerable significance, these three unique derivations allow for the first time, detection of degraded or inactive α₁ proteinase inhibitor as a prognostic indication of disease state. Prior to the present invention, there has never existed art to measure inactive proteinase inhibitors in complex body fluids.

During inflammation, the total concentration of serum α₁ PI proteinase inhibitor increases two-to-four fold. However, the “total elastase inhibiting activity” as determined by the method of Gaillard, et al may or may not remain at steady state. Using the instant method, recently published evidence (Bristow, et al, 2001. Clin. Diagn. Lab. Immnunol. 8: p. 938) discloses that inactive α₁ proteinase inhibitor is strongly correlated with HIV disease progression (p<3×10⁻⁸). Importantly, in AIDS, the total and active concentrations of α₁ proteinase inhibitor were not statistically different from normal, but inactive α₁ proteinase inhibitor was significantly elevated (p<0.0001). These data are compelling that detecting inactive al proteinase inhibitor using the instant method provides a prognostic indicator in disease progression for which there is no prior art.

By applying known constants representing the association of proteinase inhibitors with porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE), the theoretical relationship between the functional and antigenic values for α₁ PI and α₂ M has been empirically derived allowing, for the first time, the calculation of their specific activities in serum. The serum concentration of α₁PI was found to be highly correlated with residual uninhibited PPE catalytic activity in healthy individuals, but not in individuals exhibiting fragmented or complexed α₁PI. Using these techniques, both the antigenic and functional levels of α₁PI were determined in sera from subjects with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) who has been clinically diagnosed as having either periodontal disease or gingival health. Determination of quantitative levels by antigen-capture suggests that the IDDM subjects with periodontitis manifest dramatically increased levels of fragmented serum α₁PI compared with their orally healthy counterparts or normal controls.

The following abbreviations are employed in the specifications and amended claims:

-   -   PPE—porcine pancreatic elastase     -   α₁PI—α₁ proteinase inhibitor (α₁-antitrypsin)     -   α₂M—α₂ Macroglobulin     -   HNE—human neutrophil elastase     -   IαI—inter-α-trypsin inhibitor     -   APE—porcine pancreatic elastase     -   PBS—0.01M phosphate, 0.15M NaCl, pH 7.2     -   TBS—0.05 M Tris, 0.15M NaCl, pH 7.8     -   Sa_(q)NA—succinyl-L-Ala-L-Ala-L Ala p-Nitro-anilide.     -   EDTA—ethylenediaminotetraacetic acid     -   ACD—acetate-citrate-dextrose     -   IDDM—insulin-dependent diabetes anellites

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In its broad aspect, the present invention relates to a method for the quantitative determination of active and inactive proteinase inhibitors. The method comprises the steps of:

-   -   a) obtaining a sample of a body fluid from a subject;     -   b) preparing a first plurality of serial dilutions of the fluid         of decreasing concentrations;     -   c) incubating the dilutions with varying concentrations of         porcine pancreatic elastase and monitoring the catalytic         activity which decreases linearly in relation to the dilutions         of the fluid to a minimum point after which the catalytic         activity increases linearly in relation to this dilution of the         fluid;     -   d) by means of regression analysis calculating the coordinates         of the intersection of two linear lines formed by the fluid         concentration and residual activity; and     -   e) calculating the functionally active proteinase inhibitor by         computer-fit least squares regression analysis and comparing         with a standard curve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1C depict competitive assays for α₁PI (black squares) and α₂M (black circles).

FIGS. 2A-2F show serum concentration vs. catalytic activity from which residual catalytic activity is calculated.

FIG. 3 depicts the relationship between residual catalytic activity and antigenically quantitated levels of α₁PI.

FIGS. 4A-4C shows a comparison of HNE and PPE in measuring serum α₁PI.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The stoichiometric relationship between α₂M with any proteinase and interactive proteinase inhibitor can therefore be used to derive the precise equation to calculate the specific activity and inactive concentration of the active concentrations of the proteinase inhibitor in serum or other complex body fluids. The active concentrations of proteinase inhibitors can be determined by the present invention without interference by the presence of substrates, buffering pH, temperatures or optical detection device—the active concentration of proteinase inhibitors can be determined in blood corrected with no additive (serum), or into tubes containing the anticoagulants heparin, EDTA or ACD or any other anticoagulant.

The method of the present invention is effective for the determination of the active and inactive concentration of a proteinase inhibitor in complex body fluids using a wide variety of proteinases. For example, serine proteinases can be employed to quantitate serine proteinase inhibitors, aspartyl proteinases to quantitate aspartyl proteinase inhibitors, cystine proteinases to quantitate cystine proteinase inhibitors, metalloproteinase to quantitate metalloproteinase inhibitors, and the like.

The method is useful regardless of whether the proteinase is reversibly or irreversibly bound by the proteinase inhibitor of interest or whether the inhibitor is synthetic, transgenic or exogenously induced to expression. Also, the method is effective whether the proteinase inhibitor is bacterial, viral or parasitic or associated with a specific organ or cell type. The proteinase inhibitor can be introcellular, involved in coagulation, fibrinolysis, or complement inactivation and still be determinable by the present method.

As indicated, the present invention is directed to the quantitative determination of α₁ proteinase inhibitors in bodily fluids. While the invention is of particular use in the determination of α₁ proteinase inhibitors in human serum or plasm, it can also be used in determinations on any bodily fluid collected for clinical laboratory analysis including urine, saliva, seminal fluid, ascites, tears, nasal specimens, vaginal specimens and the like.

In practice, the method of this invention is a useful diagnostic tool for evaluating the medical condition in man and animals. Such condition can include but are not limited to, arthritis, atherosdersosis, diabetes, asthma, systemic lupus erythematosis; conditions which are of lymphoid origin, such or agammoglobulinemia, hypo-garnmaglobulinemia, hypergammaglobulinemia, NK cells, T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes, thymocytes, bone marrow or null cells; conditions which are age-related illnesses, or anaphylatic; and conditions which involve a malignant illness, including but not limited to, lymphoma, leukemia, or tumors of any origin primary or secondary.

The condition can be autoimmune illness, or infection of bacterial, viral, or other parasitic origin. It can be a demyelinating disease or a degenerative disease of any tissue; or the condition can be genetic, hemolytic anemia, or cardiovascular; or related to a toxin or toxoid including cholera, pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus of E. coli.

The method of the present invention is also useful where the condition is related to a poison, such as stings, bites, ingested poisons, or those which contact the skin. The condition can be murosal including gastrointestinal disorders, pulmonary, a granulomatous, one that is inflammatory, an immune disorder, or an unknown condition. The condition can be one which is secondary to any pathologic process, such as those mentioned above.

The method can be used as a therapeutic tool for many medical conditions such as organ transplantation, transfusions, inducing immune tolerance, immunization, vaccination, inducing immune suppression or activations and for replacement therapy.

The following reagents were employed in the examples:

Porcine pancreatic elastase, type 1(EC 3.4.21.36, lot No. 16H8045, Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.) or human neutrophil elastase (EC 3.4.21.37, lot No. #EH9602a, Athens Research and Technology, Inc., Athens, Ga.) were active-site titrated in 0.05 M Tris, 0.15 M NaCl, pH 7.8, (TBS) using the substrate N-t-boc-L-alanine p-nitrophenyl ester (lot No. 46F-0330, Sigma), and the steady state was determined by optical absorbence at 410 nm in a Vmax kinetic microplate reader (Molecular Devices, Palo Alto, Calif.) for 3 min with 6-s intervals (30 measurements) at 20° C. The functionally active fractions of preparations of α₁PI (Sigma A6150, lot No. 82H9323) and α₂M (generous gift of Dr. Hanne Grø, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C.) were determined. One mole of PPE was found to saturate 12.12 mol α₁PI and 1.10 mol α₂M, suggesting that α₁PI and α₂M were 8 and 91% active, respectively. Concentrations of HNE, PPE, α₁PI, and α₂M throughout represent the functionally active concentrations. Residual catalytic activity refers to uninhibited PPE in the presence of competing α₁PI and α₂M.

The following examples are illustrative of the invention:

EXAMPLE 1 Serum or Plasma Collection

Blood was collected with informed consent from healthy volunteers using Vacutainer tubes (Becton Dickinson, Rutherford, N.J.) Containing either heparin, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA, K₃), acetate-citrate-dextrose (ACD, Solution A), or no additive. Serum was prepared from blood collected in tubes with no additive by allowing blood to clot for 1 h at 2° C. and 2 h at 20° C. followed by centrifugation at 200 g for 10 min. Serum was stored at −70° C., thawed at 37° C., and maintained at 2° C. for no longer than 3 days before discarding. Two subjects, Nos. 2 and 6, were asked to participate based on known α₁PI deficiency. Sera from patients with documented insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) were collected in the School of Dentistry during routine examination.

EXAMPLE 2 Quantitation of α₁PI by ELISA

Wells of microtiter plate (Nunc, Denmark) were coated overnight at 20° C. with the immunoglobulin fraction of chicken anti-α₁PI (lot No. 18823680, O.E.M. Concepts, Toms River, N.J.) at a concentration of 0.5 μg/ml in 0.02 M carbonate-bicarbonate buffer, pH 9.4. Microtiter plates were washed once in 0.01 M sodium phosphate buffer, 0.15 M NaCl, pH 7.2 (PBS), containing 0.05% Tween-20 (PBS-Tween) and blocked for 60 min at 20° C. with 5% fish gelatin (Norland, N. Brunswick, N.J.) in PBS-Tween. After washing once, wells were incubated for 60 min at 20° C. with serum serially diluted twofold beginning with a 1/1000 dilution in a 100-μl volume of 5% fish gelatin, PBS-Tween. After washing three times, wells were incubated for 60 min at 20° C. with polyclonal rabbit anti-human α₁PI (lot No. 0180, Boehringer Mannheim, Indianapolis, Ind.) at a concentration of 1/4000 in 5% fish gelatin, PBS-Tween. After washing three times, wells were incubated for 60 min at 20° C. with horseradish peroxidase-coupled goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin (lot No. 025H-4831, Sigma) at a concentration of 1/4000 in 5% fish gelatin, PBS-Tween. After being washed five times, the ELISA was developed using the substrate orthophenylenediamine HCI (0.4 mg/ml in 0.05 M citrate buffer, PH 5.0, containing 0.025% H₂O₂). The initial slopes were determined at 490 nm in a Vmax kinetic microplate reader (Molecular Devices) and concentrations from at least four sequential dilutions of a single serum sample were calculated based on standard curves of α₁PI (1.6-200 nM). Standard deviations were less than 10% of the mean suggesting little interference in the ELISA from serum contaminants such as complement.

To detect the fraction of serum α₁PI in complex with HNE, polyclonal rabbit anti-human neutrophil elastase (anti-HNE, lot No. 8K3185, Biodesign, Kennebunkport, Me.) at a concentration of 1.1000 in 5% fish gelatin, PBS-Tween, was used in the detection step. Quantitation was based on a standard curve of preformed equimolar complexes (1.6-200 pM) between α₁PI and HNE (Athens Research & Technology).

EXAMPLE 3 Residual Catalytic Activity

It has been previously demonstrated that a serum dilution exists at which minimum catalytic activity can be measured by exploiting the properties of unequal serum concentration and unequal outcomes of proteinase complexes with α₁PI and α₂M. The maximum reduction in catalytic activity of elastase was used to determine the functionally active concentration of α₁PI.

A PPE standard curve was prepared in each microtiter plate, and units of activity were determined where one unit is defined as the amount of PPE that hydrolyzes 1 μM of the elastase substrate, succinyl-L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Ala-p-nitroanilide (SA₃NA, Sigma), per minute at 20° C. at pH 7.8. Serum was serially diluted twofold in wells containing 50 μl TBS. Final serum concentrations for each sample ranged from 0.05 to 20%. PPE was added to wells in a 10-μl volume at an estimated concentration of 50 U and incubated for 2 min at 37° C. followed by 25 μl SA₃NA in TBS with a final concentration of 0.6 mM in 0.06% dimethyl sulfoxide (Me₂SO). The maximum (100%) PPE activity was determined in each microtiter plate by incubating in TBS lacking serum. Optical absorbency (ΔmOD₄₀₅/min) was monitored at 405 nm for 15 min with 6-s intervals (151 measurements) in a Vmax kinetic mincroplate reader (Molecular Devices) at 20 °C. Activity was calculated using the initial 30 measurements by regression analysis (r²>0.98) and expressed as units of activity (μM/min) based on a final volume of 85 μl having a path length of 0.18 cm. Activity was determined for each of 8 or 16 different serum concentrations, and the serum concentration demonstrating the greatest reduction in activity was determined by regression analysis performed for these concentrations. The uninhibited PPE activity at this serum concentration is represented as a fraction of the total activity residual catalytic activity (μM) residual catalytic activity (μM) $\begin{matrix} {{{residual}\quad{catalytic}\quad{activity}\quad({\mu M})} = \frac{\begin{matrix} {{uninhibited}\quad{PPE}} \\ {\quad{{activity}\quad\left( {{\mu M}/\min} \right)}} \end{matrix}}{\begin{matrix} {{{maximum}\quad{PPE}}\quad} \\ {{activity}\quad\left( {{\mu M}/\min} \right)} \end{matrix}}} & \lbrack 1\rbrack \end{matrix}$ HNE was substituted for PPE in one set of measurements. For comparison, exogenous α₁PI or α₂M were added to sera prior to measuring activity.

The validity of determining the functional concentration of serum α₁PI using residual catalytic activity was established by comparing the same measurements using purified preparations α₁PI, α₂M, PPE, and HNE. Catalytic activity for a constant concentration of active-site titrated PPE (0.2 μM) was measured after incubation with varied concentrations of functionally determined α₂M (0.0008-0.1 μM) either before (Ganrot Assay) or after (competition assay) addition of excess functionally determined α₁PI (1 μM). In these experiments, the theoretical fraction of PPE bound to each concentration of α₂M was calculated assuming 1:1 stoichiometry as theoretical molecules PPE/molecule α₂M $\begin{matrix} {{= \frac{\alpha_{2}{M({\mu M})}}{{PPE}\quad\left( {0.2\quad{\mu M}} \right)}},} & \lbrack 2\rbrack \end{matrix}$ where α₂M and PPE represent the active concentrations. The fraction of PPE actually bound to α₂M was empirically determined in the presence of various concentrations of α₂M and excess α₁PI, and this value was calculated as molecules PPE/molecule α₂M $\begin{matrix} {= \frac{{residual}\quad{catalytic}\quad{activity}}{{theoretical}\quad{molecules}\quad{{PPE}/{molecule}}\quad\alpha_{2}M}} & \lbrack 3\rbrack \end{matrix}$ The fraction of PPE bound to α₁PI was calculated from the competition assay as molecules PPE/molecule α₁PI =1−molecules PPE/molecule α₂M.  [4] Western Blot Analysis

Electrophoresis on 0.75-mm gels composed of 12% total polyacrylamide was performed using standard SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis buffers in reducing conditions after boiling samples 5 min, Proteins were transferred to Immobilon (Millipore Corp., Bedford, Mass.) by electrophoresis of proteins in 0.025 M Tris, 0.193 M glycine, 20% MeOH, and blocked in 3% nonfat, dried milk. For detection of α₁PI, blots were incubated with rabbit anti-α₁PI (0.7 μg/ml, Boehringer Mannheim). Binding was detected by incubation of blots with horseradish peroxidase conjugated with goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin (1/1000, Sigma). After being washed extensively, substrate consisting of 0.3 mg/ml 3,3′-diaminobenzidine in 20 mM Tris, pH 7.4, 0.3 M NaCl, 0.03% H₂O₂ was added.

EXAMPLE 4 Determination of α₁PI Antigen Concentration in Serum

A sandwich ELISA was developed for quantitating α₁PI in serum, as well as the proportion α₁PI complexed with HNE. Incubation of untreated serum or plasma with immobilized antibodies in a microtiter plate can initiate complement activation and aggregation of proteins resulting in unreliable values. Because chicken antibodies have been shown to lack the capacity to activate human complement, serum α₁PI was first captured with chicken anti-human α₁PI. It was observed that sensitivity and consistency were improved when values were based on estimates of Vmax as opposed to the traditional endpoint method (data not shown). Since gender differences in α₁PI quantitative levels have been reported, healthy adult males and healthy adult females were recruited for the study (Table 1) below. Siblings having known α₁PI deficiency were recruited for the study. Genotype analysis by PCR was performed by Dr. R. Farber, UNC Hospitals, to confirm that these individuals were homozygous for the deficient Pi_(zz)allele. Because serum concentrations of α₁PI are routinely measured using nephelometric methods, the antigenically quantitated level a α₁PI in serum from Subject No. 6 was confirmed by nephelometry (Dr. J. Katzmann, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.). Serum concentrations of α₁PI were found to be 3.27+/=1.3 μM by the ELISA method and 4.18 μM by nephelometry. By ELISA, healthy individuals demonstrated a wide range of serum levels of α₁PI (10-84 μM) with a minor fraction (0.3-0.4%) in complex with HNE. The individuals with known α₁PI deficiency demonstrated roughly 10% normal α₁PI levels (3-5 μM) and a proportionally increased fraction (3%) was HNE complexed.

Determination of Functional α₁ 1PI and α₂M in Serum

TABLE 1 Functional Concentrations of Serum α₁PI and α₂M in an Asymptomatic Normal Population a₁PI in Complex Residual Active Active With HNE PPE Serum a₁ PI a₂M Subject Sex Age a₁PI (μM)^(a) (μM)^(b) (μM)^(d) Concentration^(d) (μM)^(e) (μM)^(f)  1 M 22 36.5 = 1.9 0.12 0.1590 0.0090 39.45 5.57  2 M 47  4.8 = 0.8 0.14 0.5433 0.0429 3.39 2.04  3 M 45 22.0 = 3.8 0.09 0.2129 0.0138 22.02 6.57  4 M 45 32.6 = 5.1 n.d. 0.2190 0.0083 20.82 4.93  5 M 27 37.6 = 5.0 n.d. 0.1403 0.0085 50.66 8.86  6 F 43 3.3 = 1.3 0.12 0.6390 0.0553 2.45 1.79  7 F 39 10.0 = 1.5  0.07 0.3264 0.0132 9.37 2.65  8^(c) F 44 3.5 = 1.1 n.d. 0.5319 0.0131 3.53 1.70  9 F 43 26.0 = 2.5  n.d. 0.2128 0.0032 22.03 8.81 10 F 44 84.4 = 13.4 n.d. 0.1152 0.0061 75.12 4.28 11 F 37 40.1 = 5.0  0.14 0.2697 0.0034 13.72 3.50 12 F 45 45.5 = 2.5  n.d. 0.1656 0.0060 36.39 4.65 13 F 31 29.9 = 2.6  n.d. 0.1978 0.0074 25.52 1.94 14 F 49 37.0 = 12.1 n.d. 0.1573 0.0073 40.34 2.20 15^(h) M 41 282.8 = 42.1  n.d. 0.2240 0.0019 19.89 6.35 ^(a)Mean = standard deviation measured in ELISA by capturing with anti-α₁ PI and detecting with anti-a₁ PI. ^(b)Measured in ELISA by capturing with anti α₁ PI and detecting with anti-HNE. ^(c)Not done. ^(d)Measured as described in FIG. 2. ^(e)Measured as described in FIG. 3 using Eq. (6). ^(f)Measured as described in FIG. 4 using Eq. (7). ^(g)Sample collected from Subject No. 6 at a different time point. ^(h)This IDDM periodontally diseased subject is included to demonstrate the discrepancy between a₁ PI quantitations by graphical representation in FIG. 4.

EXAMPLE 5 Determination of Residual Catalytic Activity

The covalent nature of the interaction of PPE within α₂M has been shown to be at a site not inhibitory for the catalytic site of PPE, and this property allows α₂M-complexed PPE to retain discretionary cleavage of low-molecular-weight substrates such as SA₃NA. In contrast, incubation of PPE with α₁PI results in stoichiometrically decreased PPE activity. The rate of association of PPE to α₂M (4.4×10⁶ M⁻¹ s⁻¹) is 44-fold greater than that of PPE to α₁PI (1×10⁵ M−1 s⁻¹), and this suggests that in the presence of sufficient competing concentrations of α₂M, PPE should not be inhibited by α₁PI. This principle forms the basis for the Ganrot Assay which allows determination of α₂M activity by first saturating α₂M in the presence of a 2:1 molar excess of PPE: α₂M after which the noncomplexed proteinase is neutralized by incubation with 10:1 molar excess α₁PI:α₂M. The stoichiometry of PPE binding to α₁PI is 1:1. Although each molecule of α₂M has the capacity to bind two proteinase molecules, it has been mechanistically documented that excessively great proteinase concentrations are necessary to achieve a 2:1 stoichiometry.

Hypothetically, the difference in the residual uninhibited catalytic activity in the Ganrot assay and the residual activity in the competitive assay represents the concentration of competing α₁PI as long as all other contaminating proteins (e.g., IaI) are without influence. To establish the validity for measuring elastase inhibitory capacity of α₁PI in the presence of competing α₂M, the molecular ratios at which α₁PI and α₂M demonstrate competitively equivalent elastase binding capacity were examined using isolated proteins. PPE was incubated with a constant concentration of α₁PI in the presence of varying concentrations of competing α₂M (competition assay). These values were compared with those obtained using the Ganrot assay in which PPE was incubated with varying concentrations of α₂M and subsequently incubated with a constant concentration of α₁PI. As expected, residual uninhibited catalytic activity was diminished in the competition assay in comparison to activity using the Ganrot assay (FIG. 1A). In the Ganrot assay, a 2:1 ratio of PPE (0.2 μM) to α₂M (0.1 μM) resulted in 1.1 molecules PPE bound to 1 molecule α₂M (FIG. 1B), and this result is consistent with previous mechanistic studies demonstrating binary α₂M:proteinase complexes. As the ratio of α₂M to PPE approached 60:1, two molecules of PPE were associated with one molecule α₂M. In contrast, in the competition assay, fewer than 0.6 molecules of PPE were associated with one molecule α₂M as the ration of PPE to α₂M approached 60:1. The protection of PPE by α₂M in the competition assay was relatively constant when the ration of α₂M (0.0031-0.1 μM) to α₁PI (1 μM) was between 1:100 and 1:320 (FIG. 1C). When the concentration of α₂M fell below these values, the protection of PPE by α₂M decreased in proportion. At the intersection of the two regression lines, the concentrations of PPE, α₂M, and α₁PI are 0.31, 0.003, and 1.0 μM, respectively.

Reliability of Residual Catalytic Activity as a Measure of Serum α₁PI

Serum dilutions were incubated with varying concentrations of PPE, and catalytic activity was monitored (FIGS. 2-2F). Catalytic activity was found to decrease linearly in relation to the dilution of serum to a minimum point, after which the catalytic activity increased linearly in relation to the dilution of serum. Regression analysis was used to calculate the coordinates of the intersection of these two lines, the maximum reduction in catalytic activity. As expected, the abscissa (serum concentration) and ordinate (residual catalytic activity) at the intersection were found to increase in collinear manner in the presence of increasing PPE. In other words, increased serum concentration (and α₁PI concentration) was necessary to achieve maximum inhibition using increased PPE; likewise, increased PPE resulted in increased residual PPE activity at the point of maximum inhibition. Since a collinear relation exists between the concentration of PPE and the values of the coordinates at the intersection, residual catalytic activity at the serum dilution demonstrating maximum inhibition can be reliably estimated as the fraction of total PPE activity (0.2008+/=0.0138 for Subject No. 11). Variation in multiple determinations of residual catalytic activity for a single serum sample was <1% using consistent concentrations of active-site titrated PPE (near 50 U). Values for some subjects in this study were calculated using sera collected on more than one occasion, and variation in residual catalytic activity observed to occur between different sera collections (1-13%) was interpreted as true variations in residual catalytic activity.

As expected, when exogenous α₁PI (2.7 μM) was added to serum, residual catalytic activity decreased representing an increased concentration of α₁PI. When exogenous α₂M (2.7 μM) was added to serum, residual catalytic activity increased representing increased protection of PPE. In this experiment, the concentration of α₂M was added in great excess to demonstrate its effect on the distribution of PPE activity. Since the physiologic concentration of α₂M is 1.56-4.96 μM, and proteinase-complexed α₂M is rapidly cleared (half-life 2-4 min), fluctuations in serum concentrations of α₂M would not be expected to significantly affect measurements of serum α₁PI Results suggest that approximately 50% of the exogenous α₁PI (1.50+/=0.44, μM) and 80% the exogenous α₂M (2.23+/=0.45 μM) were inactivated upon addition probably as a result of proteolysis. However, these results support the hypothesis that residual PPE catalytic activity is primarily determined by the functionally active fractions of α₁PI and α₂M.

Comparison of Residual Catalytic Activity in Serum and Plasma

Evidence has suggested that heparin decreases the rate of α₁PI inhibition of HNE, but not PPE. The residual catalytic activities were compared in a single individual when blood was collected with no additive (serum) or into tubes containing the anticoagulants heparin, EDTA or ACD. The residual catalytic activity for plasma collected in ACD (0.276) was greater than that for plasma collected in heparin or EDTA or for serum (0.2373=/+0.0018). These results suggest that serum or plasma can yield equivalent residual catalytic activities using this method.

Serum from a patient (No. 15) previously determined to have a history of infection with periodontopathogenic bacteria exhibited higher than normal quantitative levels (283 μM), but low normal functional levels of α₁PI (20 μM). When serum from this patient was examined by Western blot, proteolytic fragmentation was observed. Serum from Subject No. 11 also exhibited evidence of fragmentation compared with that of Subject Nos. 6 and 13. These results suggest that increased antigenic levels of α₁PI as determined by ELISA or nephelometry might not be representative of the functionally active α₁PI.

Determination of the Relationship Between Residual Catalytic Activity and the Functional Concentrations of Serum αPI and α₂M

It was found that residual catalytic activity decreased in direct relation to increased α₁PI concentration in healthy individuals (FIG. 3). Based on these individuals, the relationship between residual catalytic activity and functionally active α₁PI was determined using computer-fit least-squares regression analysis to be: ${\log(x)} = \frac{\log(y)}{- 0.5}$ where x represents the functional concentration of α₁PI (μM), and y represents residual catalytic activity of PPE (μM). This equation is equivalent to: $\begin{matrix} {{{Log}\quad\left\lbrack {\alpha_{1}{PI}} \right\rbrack} = \frac{\log\quad({PPE})}{\log\quad(0.316)}} & \lbrack 6\rbrack \end{matrix}$ which corresponds to a ratio of PPE:α₁PI equivalent to 0.316:1. This ration is virtually identical to the ratios for PPE:α₂M:α₁PI determined using isolated proteins in FIG. 1 which were 0.31:0.003:1.0.

The stoichiometric relationship between PPE, α₁PI AND α₂M demonstrated in FIG. 1 suggests that α₂M might also be estimated using concentrations of PPE and α₁PI. Since two molecules of PPE were shown to associate with α₂M when the concentration of PPE exceeded 60-fold α₂M, the serum concentration of α₂M was estimated using the serum concentrations at which PPE and α₂M have 1:1 stoichiometry as log[α₂M] $\begin{matrix} {{{LOG}\quad({A2m})} = \frac{\begin{matrix} {\log\quad\left( {{uninhibited}\quad{PPE}\quad{{activity}/}} \right.} \\ \left. {{maximum}\quad{PPE}\quad{activity}} \right) \end{matrix}}{\log\quad\left\lbrack {{serum}\quad{concentration}} \right\rbrack}} & \lbrack 7\rbrack \end{matrix}$ The results of FIG. 1 suggest the concentration of α₂M might also be calculated using α₁PI using the ratio 0.003:1.0 (or 1:333) as ${{Log}\left\lbrack {\alpha_{2}M} \right\rbrack} = \frac{\log\left\lbrack {\alpha_{1}{PI}} \right\rbrack}{\log\lbrack 333\rbrack}$ Based on Eqs. [7] and [8], the average α₂M concentration of these individuals was 3.32+/=1.27 μM and 3.25+/=1.20 μM, respectively, and these values are within the previously reported range, 1.56-4.96 μM determined by antigen capture. However, because α₂M has broad specificity, proteinases that do not compete for and are not eliminated by a α₁PI retain their capacity to interact with and diminish α₂M, and this effect escapes detection by the methods described here. This suggests that measuring α₂M by competition with α₁PI might vary as a result of serum proteinases other than elastase. Further examination of the behavior of α₂M by comparison using ELIS or the Ganrot assay is needed for verification of the measurements described here.

Comparison of HNE with PPE as a Measure of Serum of α₁PI

Although α₂M inhibition of proteinases including PPE involves covalent proteinase interaction with a thiol ester, the noncovalent complex between HNE and α₂M has been shown to be unique in lacking a thiol ester bond. The rate of association of HNE for α₁PI (6.5×10⁷ M⁻¹s⁻¹). During the acute phase, α₁PI increases 2- to 4-fold, and this is consistent with the critical ratio for α₁PI:α₂M during control of HNE. In the absence of influence by other serum inhibitors, measurement of residual catalytic activity with HNE or PPE should yield identical values for α₁PI concentration. Residual catalytic activity of a single serum sample was compared using PPE or HNE as described. Based on the relationship described in FIG. 3, total α₁PI concentration was determined to be 22.25 μM. To more easily compare molar relationships, serum concentrations were converted to represent α₁PI concentrations (FIG. 4A). In parallel, residual catalytic activity of the same serum sample was measured using HNE. As expected, HNE was found to exhibit bimodal activity when varying concentrations of serum were incubated with a constant concentration of active-site titrated HNE (FIG. 4B). Based on total serum α₁PI as determined using PPE (22.25 μM), the serum concentrations between 10⁻¹ and 10⁻³ were converted to represent a1P concentrations (FIG. 4C). At the serum concentration (0.0107) displaying minimum catalytic activity, the HNE concentration was 0.2227 μM and the α₁PI concentration was 0.2388 μM a ratio of 0.93:1. Then the total concentration of α₁PI can be calculated from the serum concentration as $\frac{0.238\quad{\mu M}\quad\alpha_{1}{PI}}{0.0107} = {22.24\quad{\mu M}}$ Since this value is virtually identical with the concentration of α₁PI determined using PPE, it can be concluded that the assay is highly specific and that the empirically derived relationship accurately represents the theoretical relationship. Further, the consistency in these measurements suggests that serum inhibitors other than α₁PI and α₂M do not contribute significantly to inhibition of PPE or HNE.

Determination of Quantitative and Functional Levels of Serum α₁PI in an IDDM Population

It has been previously reported that patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus have greater or lower (36-38) α₁PI values compared with the normal population. Applying the methods developed here, the α₁PI quantity and function in a population of IDDM patients with and without periodontal disease were determined. Because IDDM patients are known to have altered glaciation of secreted proteins, patients demonstrating aberrant glycosylated hemoglobin were eliminated from the study. The results clearly demonstrate that there is a significant quantitative difference between the IDDM and the normal population. However, when IDDM patients are dichotomized based on evidence of periodontal disease, it becomes apparent that IDDM patients without periodontal disease have normal levels of α₁PI, whereas those with periodontal disease have significantly greater than normal α₁PI. In comparison, when the elastase inhibitory capacity in these patients was determined, there was a less dramatic, although statistically significant, difference between subjects suggesting an underlying pathology perhaps of bacterial origin unrelated to periodontitis. These data suggest that although the IDDM patients manifesting periodontal disease have increased levels of antigenically determined a α₁PI, a significant proportion maybe inactivated. Further, these data demonstrate an attendant systemic manifestation associated with periodontal disease in IDDM patients.

It is evident from the foregoing that the present inventions provides a reproducible, inexpensive and expedient method for determinations of the functionally active and inactive concentrations of α₁PI and α₂M in body fluids and in particular, in serum or plasma.

Although the invention has been illustrated by the preceding disclosures, it is not to be considered as being limited to the examples disclosed therein, but rather, the invention is directed to the generic area or hereinbefore disclosed. Various modifications and embodiments thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. 

1. A method for a quantitative determination of active and inactive proteinase inhibitors in a bodily fluid which comprises the steps of: a. obtaining a sample of a bodily fluid from a subject; b. preparing a first plurality of serial dilutions of the fluid of decreasing concentration; c. incubating the dilutions with varying concentrations porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) and monitoring the catalytic activity which decreases linearly in relation to the dilutions of the fluid to a minimum point, after which the catalytic activity increases in relation to the dilution of the fluid; d. by means of regression analysis calculating the coordinates of the intersection of two linear lines, one of which is formed by the fluid concentration and the other by residual catalytic activity; and e. calculating the active and inactive proteinase inhibitor activity by computer-fit least squares regression analysis and comparing with a standard curve.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the proteinase inhibitor is α₁PI.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the proteinase inhibitor is α₂M.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the subject is human.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the subject is animal.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the bodily fluid is selected from the group consisting of blood serum, blood plasma, urine, saliva, seminal fluid, ascites, tears, nasal specimens, and vaginal specimens.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid is blood serum.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid is blood plasma.
 9. A method for an evaluation of non-inflammation condition in a subject which comprises determining the quantity of active and inactive proteinase inhibitor in the subject by the method of claim
 1. 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the condition is insulin—dependent diabetes mellitus. 